(By Russell).
The first four LPs borrowed from a local record lending library; Be Bop Preservation Society Be Bop Preservation Society (with colourful zoot suits on the LP cover), Billie Holiday Songs for Distingué Lovers, Miles Davis Bitches Brew (a starting point, working back over to the Birth of the Cool era), Quintette du Hot Club de France Swing ’35-’39.
Michael Parkinson’s late night chat show. Parky, a life-long jazz fan, had a front row seat as jazz greats performed a tune or two in the studio; Oscar, Ella, Joe Pass
BBC television and radio, much maligned for its lack of jazz, or lack of commitment to jazz, has, in some ways, been instrumental in opening musical doors. The incomparable Peter Clayton - Sounds
Live jazz – this is what it’s all about. The Newcastle Big Band, Last Exit, legendary alto player Nigel Stanger playing Gerry Richardson’s Hammond one Sunday lunchtime, the then unknown flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucía wandering in during the interval at a gig asking if he could play a few tunes. An ‘I was there’ moment’ if ever there was one. Weather Report, twice! Jaco Lives! Newcastle Jazz Festival and a to-this-day memorable appearance by Rahsaan Roland Kirk. Miles, late period Miles at the then Hammersmith Apollo. Ella at the Royal Albert Hall. Ella was at the end of her career. As the great woman walked out onto the stage the audience as one rose to its feet, the band riffing, all she could say, for something like five minutes (the applause was incessant), was ‘Thank you, thank you’. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.
Must dash, there’s a gig to go to.
Russell.
2 comments :
I can remember in the early 60s enrolling in the Jazz record Library which was almost certainly based in London in those days. It was obviously done by snail mail. I would fill in a form and post it off and a few days later my chunk of vinyl would arrive. It was an education listening to all those old records. All of my friends were Jazz fans too and one night we were invited to visit to Durham Bill who lived at Coxhoe and also had the most remarkable collection of Jazz and Blues records. I never knew his full name but a friend kept in touch with him and told me recently that he had died at a ripe old age. On the night I was invited to visit he played some magnificent records and for a finale he said we wouldn’t know who this was and played Round the Clock Blues. He was quite shocked when I told him it was Bertha Chippie Hill. It made my reputation and is still talked about to this day. The Jazz Record Library worked.
I wonder, would Durham Bill be Bill Iceton who was a member of the Bishop Auckland Jazz Record Society?
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